CLEMSON – Vision is at the center of the plan for second-year Clemson volleyball coach Hugh Hernesman.

It’s all a part of what Hernesman terms as a “rebuilding” in the program, where the returns are largely positive early in the season.

“This year we’re going to maximize what we have and do the best we can to have a great season,” Hernesman said before taking a match last week in the Clemson Classic. “We’re off to a good start. It feels way different than it did last year.”

Clemson sits at 4-5, which almost mirrors a 2015 start where the Tigers went on to lose 17 matches in a row and finish 1-19 in ACC play.

What’s different this time around?

“We’ve spent a lot of time since we arrived last March working on program culture and paying a lot of attention to that,” said Hernesman. “And building a positive program culture. I said we’ve seen over the course of the spring and this preseason really develop in a positive way. It’s grown a lot.

“On the floor, we’ve improved immensely over last season.”

One of those areas comes in the attack, where the team’s hitting percentage ranked at the bottom of the ACC (.147) in 2015 – and through nine matches, is up to .220, as high as second in the conference early on.

Senior outside hitter Leah Perri leads that group with 170 kills. Junior setter Keely Hayes ranks among the best in the ACC with 411 assists.

Senior Sydney Moseley says consistency is a key going forward with a tough field in the Penn State Invitational this weekend and ACC action starting next week.

“We’ve had it in spurts throughout our preseason matches,” Moseley said, “but if we can play through an entire match like we play in little spurts, nobody is going to stop us this season.”

Moseley and Perri are the only two seniors on the squad, which has four upperclassmen total. Hernesman says the group leads by example, starting with preseason All-ACC selection Perri.

“She sets an incredible example in how hard she competes, how hard she trains, how hard she practices – all those things are at the highest level,” Hernesman said.

A core of second-year players are making big contributions early, says Hernesman, showing growth expected from time in the program.

“They’re learning to play at a high collegiate level,” he said. “That’s hard to do in your first year. You learn a little bit on the job, but during the season it’s all about preparing for your opponent.

“The sophomore class…you’re seeing just another level to their game because we didn’t have enough time to really work with them last year.”

Freshman Dejhana Cotton, who took a medical redshirt last year, was among the top-10 in the ACC in hitting percentage going into last week (.340), while sophomore Megan McGinley is up towards the top in blocks (44).

The nonconference schedule brings a challenge that’s welcome for a team that struggled last season when hitting ACC play. Moseley is preparing for the “harder and faster” action when it comes to conference matches, while Hernesman says familiarity in his second season will help him and his staff.

“These teams will push us to a level we need to be performing at, at a consistent basis,” said Hernesman. “Once you hit ACC play, the ACC is one of the best leagues in the country. Night in and night out, it’s going to be very challenging – for us to be continually stressed in the preseason, it’s a benefit for us to have that so it’s not a huge step-up when we hit conference play.”

Being an NCAA Tournament team is the ultimate goal, which starts in reaching a level of play Hernesman’s expecting each time out. But that’s just one part in a holistic plan.

“The vision for us short-term is when you establish that culture, and really for us is a family atmosphere where we interact well together and are tight emotionally as a group and as a staff altogether,” he said. “Once we develop that culture everything follows after that.”